The Bristol Isotope Group in the School of Earth Sciences at Bristol is inviting applications for a Research Associate to work on the ERC grant PAst Links in the Evolution of Ocean’s Global ENvIronment and Ecology (PaleoGENIE). The basis of the project is the recognition that in the ocean, the interaction between species, and their chemical and physical environment is intimately two-way – the surface biogeochemical environment modulates the makeup of the pelagic ecosystem, yet at the same time, the ecosystem assemblage, by setting the strength of the biological pump and ultimately, in regulating the carbon and nutrient inventory of the ocean and atmospheric CO2, influences the ocean geochemical environment.

Feedbacks, both negative and positive, must therefore exist between plankton ecology and global biogeochemical cycles. PALEOGENiE is directly addressing these challenges via the development of a unique coupled model of past plankton ecology and global biogeochemical cycles.

Diatoms are siliceous organisms that are responsible for almost half of the carbon export in the oceans. This group also have an absolute requirement for dissolved silicon as they produce cell walls from silica or opal, resulting in an inherent link between marine silicon, carbon cycling an climate. The aims of this position are to: 1) calibrate the intermediate complexity model cGENIE for the silicon cycle, incorporating silicon dissolved concentrations, silicon isotopes, and biogenic opal; 2) add a diatom functional group to PaleoGENIE; 3) test scenarios across major climatic events in Earth history to investigate silicon cycle changes.

The successful candidate will have an in depth knowledge of the silicon cycle and silicon isotopes, global-scale marine modelling experience, and experience in working model-data analysis. Applicants should have a PhD degree (or equivalent) in Earth Sciences or a related subject. We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate excellent communication skills, experience in working as part of a research project, and proven ability to work independently with the ability to take initiative, develop research methodologies and methods of data analysis.

The Research Associate will have opportunities to present the research at international conferences and mentor postgraduate researchers. The position will start in early July 2018, and funding is available for 10 months each (ending April 2019).